Adjustable holder



June 6, 1933. G,Q BENSQN ET AL 1,912,564

ADJUSTABLE HOLDER Filed July 28, 1931' 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 6, 1933. G. o. BENSON ET AL ADJUSTABLE HOLDER Filed July 28, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ii Elf 71 W 2% a M PMrw- Patented June 6, 1933 UNITED STATESPA'TEN'I OFFICE CORPORATION OF NETVV YORK GEORGE. O. BENSON AND EDWARD J. SMYNTEK, OF NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK, AS-

SIGNORS TO PREMAX PRODUCTS CORPORATION, OF NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YOBK, A

ADJUSTABLE HOLDER Application filed July 28, 1931. Serial No. 553,504.

This invention relates to improvements in adjustable holders or devices of the kind which may be mounted upon a pole or analogous support and are movable lengthwise thereof so as to be retained in different positions thereon.

Such holders or devices are useful for different purposes, for example, to maintain a plurality of arms or stays, pivoted or otherwise movably connected thereto, in laterally extending relations to a pole or'support of a folding tent of the umbrella type, and to the ends of which arms the tent is attached, or to any other relatively stationary support.

Some objects of the invention are to produce a holder or device of the character described which is of simple, inexpensive and durable construction; to produce a holder consisting of relatively few parts of simple formand which, can be assembled without the use of bolts, screws, rivets or other fastening devices; also to provide a holder of this sort which can be constructed entirely of sheet metal parts or stampings;jalso to construct a holder which is adjustable so as to be easily and quickly shifted to and retained in different positions upon the sup port; and also to provide a holder which is freely movable along the support in one direction and which, when movement thereof in the opposite direction is initiated, grips or engages the support and is retained in stationary relation thereto, and which nevertheless can be moved freely along the support in said last mentioned direction by a simple manipulation of the holder, whereby the holder can thus be moved in either direction andretained in different positions upon said pole or support.

Other objects of the invention are to con struct a holder for the purpose stated with which the aforementioned arms or stays can be pivotally connected in a secure and novel manner while permitting said arms or stays to be easily attached to or disconnected from the holder when desired; also to construct a holder of this kind which can be used on poles or supports varying to some extent in er which can be used on a telescopingor other pole or support having sections varying in diameter and which can be moved along the support from one section to another and will automatically adjust itself so as to hold securely without changing or adjusting any parts of the holder; also to construct a holder having a slide or the like engageable with the support, a catch also engageable therewith for holding the device in adjusted position and a movable and automatically adj ustable fulcrum connection between said parts which enables the holder to be adapted for use on different sizes of supports as above described; and also to improve and simplify such holders in the other respects hereinafter set forth and claimed.

An embodiment of the invention with which the above objects and advantages may be attained is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of our im proved holder arrangedupon the pole of a tent in position to retain a plurality of laterally extending arms, pivoted to the holder,

in tent supporting relation to said pole;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the holder in stationary, holding relation to a pole or the like upright support;

F ig.-3 is a similar View thereof with the catch positioned so that the holder is freely slidable along said pole in either direction. Fig. 4 is a plan view thereof, on line 1-4, Fig. 2; Y r i Fig. 5 is a horizontal section thereof, on line 55, Fig. 3; r

Fig. 6 is a vertical, central section thereof,

* approximately on line 6-6, Fig. 4, showing in full and broken lines, the catch and fulcrum connection of the holder in relation to supports of two different sizes;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary side elevation thereof, taken in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary side elevation taken at right angles to Fig. 7, showing one of the pivoted arms or stays moved to a position in which it may be attached to or disconnected from the holder.

. Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of the holder, showing parts of the same in process of assembly;

Fig. 10 is a face view of the catch and of the fulcrum connection or link for operatively connecting the same to the sliding member of the holder;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view of a portion of the sliding member or sleeve of the holder, and one of the lug members thereof, before these parts are permanently connected.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view of the fulcrum connection or link on an enlarged N scale.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary side elevation of the outer end of one of the pivoted arms or stays showing an adjustable device thereon for holding out the adjacent Wall of a tent.

The drawings show our improved holder or device, by way of illustration, employed in connection with a tent of the umbrella type (the upper portion only of which is shown, in broken lines). The peak a of the tent roof A engages and is supported upon the upper end of a telescopic pole or other relatively stationary support B, while the adjoining corners a of the roof, or eaves are connected to and held in position upon the outer ends 0 of a corresponding number of relatively movable supports or arms C, which radiate or extend laterally from the pole B. The inner ends of the arms or supports C are detachably and pivotally connected to the holder D, the latter being adjustably mounted upon the pole B so as to be moved up and down thereon. The arms or stays C can thus be collapsed and folded alongside the pole or detached therefrom for transportation, or by engaging the ends 0 thereof in the corners a of the tent, after erecting the pole B, the top of the tent can be stretched taut by slid ing the holder D upwardly along the pole B to the proper position, wherein it will engage and grip the pole and hold the arms in eX- tended relation as shown in Fig. 1.

In the embodiment illustrated, the holder D comprises a slidable member or sleeve 12 which slidably engages the pole or support with Which it is used, so as to be movable lengthwise thereof, and a catch or member 18 preferably disposed at one end of the slide 12 and which has a hole or opening 1 to loosely receive the pole B. The slide 12 and catch 13 are operatively connected by a suitable fulcrum member or link 15. l Vhen the holder D is used in connection with the arms C or other pivoted members, the holder is further provided with an appropriate number of lugs or hearing members 16.

The slide 12 may be of any suitable form or construction, preferably conforming substantially to the cross sectional shape of the support on which it is mounted. For example, since the pole B, in the present case, is of cylindrical form, the slide 12 shown is also formed of a flat plate of sheet metal.

of cylindrical or sleeve like construction, of a size that will permit it to slide freely along he pole. Such a slide or sleeve can be readily fashioned from a piece of sheet metal tubing. I

The catch or member 13 is preferably The body of the plate 18 may be of circular fol-n1 with the hole or opening l l centrally disposed therein, while at one side of said aperture is disposed a rectangular slot or opening 18, the body of the plate being extended laterally, if necessary, to accommodate said slot.

The fulcrum member or link 15, is also preferably in. the form of a flat sheet metal blank or stamping and comprises a reduced shank portion 19 adapted to be loosely received in the slot or opening 18 of the catch 13, and terminating at its upper end in a transverse head. 20 having opposite, laterally extending shoulders or parts 21 which overhang the ends of the slot l8 at the upper side of said catch. The lower end of the shank if) preferably terminates in oppositely extending )ivot or hinge portions 22, by which the link is pivotally connected to the slide or sleeve i2, in any suitable way, so that said catch 13 and link 15 are freely movable rela tive to the slide 12.

in the construction illustrated, the pivots 22 are received in alined holes 23 in a pair of spaced, upright lugs 24 extending outwardly from the slide 12. These lugs 24; can be formed on or secured to the holder in any suitable manner. For example, when the aforementioned lug members 16 are employed in conn "on with the arms C or the like members, said lugs 24- may constitute parts of these members.

As shown, the holder D is arranged on the post or supper l; with the catch or member 13 disposed above the slide 12. Therefore, if the holder D is moved in an upward direction along the support B, the catch 13 will be moved and carried along the support by said slide or sleeve 12.

The action of the catch or plate 13 is intended to be such that when the holder is released, after the upward movement thereof, or movement of the holder in the opposite or downward direction is initiated, the catch will assume an inclined or tilted position or be so disposed that diametrically opposite portions of the edges of its aperture 14- will lirmiy grip the pole or support B. Further downward movement of the holder is prevented and the latter is retained in stationary relation to said support.

In many instances this result can be attained by the arrangement of the various parts of the holder thus far described. That is, in an initial downward movement of the holder, the slide will react through the link or connection 15, causing the catch 13 to ijerai'sea asserting e uired nae diaap position shown Fig.2, by the; engagement of ping the supportB 'is more positively assured. K For this purpose, in the embodiment illustratemlthere ,is spring clip or device 25, see Fig. 12, which is 'forme'dof thin spring .i' i etaihana is adapted to be forced over the link or diflimiection 15. At its inne side the clip is bowed to form a shoulder 26. which is engageable with theunder side ofthe'catch, so as to yieldi'iigly hold it, normally in an inclined position. Iii-this 'way the catch is ,alw'aysready to "grip the support, since at least one portion ofthe edge of its aperture 14 iseiigagiiig'or closely adjaeentthe'pole at all times. j

However, should it be desiredfto adjust the holder Dto another position either downivv ardly or upwardly ofthe pole or support @BQthis ,canbe .ja ccomplished by first raising the holder sliglitly'to releasethe "catch 13, and then by placing a finger upon thecatch $0 as to depressthe spring shoulder 26, and

permit thecatch to move to the horizontal position shown in Fig. 13, the device can be slid freely along the pole without restraint.

It will thus be seen that the holder D can bemoived freely lengthwise of the pole Bor other supportjn either direction, orcan be adjusted to and held securely in any'desired position thereon.

the provision offaholder as disclosed bylthe illustrated embodimentof theinventio-n,as thus far described, the holder can be used infconnection with supports of somewhat diii'erent sizes. For, example, a pole having telescoping sections is shown on Figs. landid andin the latter. figure it.will be seen that the holder operates just as efiective- 1y onone section as the other. This is for the reason that when the catch isnponthe smaller section, for example, ismerely tilted to a greater degree, the fulcrum conn e ionf r l nk e 'temi lly ll ii sie e difi'erent angular relation to the other parts of tl eh e t o j a Obviously, the holder will act justas Well it moved entirely upon the smaller section. Inthisoase, the sleeve 12 will tilt and be slightly out of line with the axis of thesupport, but the device will function ust as well in. this position.

v The 1119; members 16 can be formedin any suitable way'to provide the lugs or pivot 60 H receiving projections 24; In the construction shown, each member '16 is formed of a single lsheethmetal stamp ng having, a body portion BOQf rmed to fitthejouterfface r edges of which thelugs 24 projectin 'angulat-relation to other. There are four of these members 16, in the construction shown,

disposed "a'boutthe slide 12 in such relation that each l'ugf24foi' a member extends substantially parallel with the adjacent lug of the next iiiember. The lugs 24; in each of these parallel pairs have aimed apertures 31 to receive and rotatably support "the oflset end or pivot portionc of an arm Cor other.

relativelymovable member, as shown in Figs. 3 to 7, which is extended laterally through both holes with the arm adjacent the outer face of'one lug. The free'endof the portion 0 of each arm preferably 'projectsbeyond theou'te'r 'faceiof the companion lug 24and is provided with meansjfor retaining the piv ot portion c in operative position. This constructionperm'its the arms C to'swing up and down "through a vertical plane withoutany noticeable lateral play.

Preferably, theretaining means is such as to permit the arms or members C to be de- For tached from'the holder when desired.

this purposetheend portion of each oliset or pivot portion 0 is'provided with a lateral projection 32which may be integrally formed by upsetting a portion of the metal, and which is adapted to pass through notches or lateral extensions 33 of the holes 31. The rela tive positions of said projections 32 and notches 33 are such that they are not in register when the arms are in their various operative positions, or when folded downwardly against the pole or support B. However, by

swinging; the arms tothe upwardly eXtending position shown in Fig. 8, the projections are brought into register with the notches 33 and thepivot portions 0 can be withdrawn from the holes 31 'andthe arms C discon- V nected.

While the pivot portion 0 of each arm C is shown mounted in a pair of the lugs 24, it is obviousthat the lug members could be formed with only one lug or projection and.

the pivot portion 0 arrangedin said single lugs, with an arm C at one side of each'lug and the projection 32at'the other, incases where lateral play of the arms'C would not be objectionable. 1

The lug members 16 may be secured to the slide or sleeve member 12 in any suitable manner, For example, in the construction shown, the ends of the tubing of which the slide member is formed project beyond the; ends of the parts 16. as at 35, see Fig. 11, and

after the lug members are disposed in operatlve relation thereto, as shown. said ends 35 are bent or spun outwardly over and against the adjacent ends of said parts 16, thus securely binding and retaining them in position. Any other interlocking means could be employed forfthis purpose.

lt will benotedithat an or the lugs 24 are provided with the holes 23, although only one pair of these holes "are required for thereception of the pivot or hinge portions 22 of the link 15. In this way, only one set of dies are required for the production of the parts 16. To assemble theparts of the holder or device D, the'fulcrum member or link means is passed downwardly through the slot 18 in the catch 13. This slot, as shown in Fig. 10, is long enough to admit the lateral hinge parts 22 to pass therethrough, while preventing the shoulders 21 of the link from doing so. Thus, by arranging these parts as shown in Fig. 9 and inserting one of the pivot or hinge parts 22 in a hole 23 in one of the members 16, while the latter is held in operative relation to the slide 12, an adjoining member 16 can be moved oircumferentially about said slide until the appropriate hole 23 in one of the lugs 24 will be brought to a position engaging over the other pivot or hinge part 22. lien the other members 16 have been properly positioned, as in Fig. 5, the ends of the unfinished tubular portion of the slide are then spun over to secure the members 16 in place, as previously described. After the pivots 22 have been thus mounted in a pair of the lugs 24, the link member 15 is prevented from being withdrawn through the slot 18 in the catch plate 13.

\Vhile for the purpose of disclosure the invention has been illustrated in connection with a support for a tent structure, it should be understood that the same is not limited to such use, since the bolt er may be employed in connection with'other supports, or used for supporting other objects or parts. The holder may also be used without the movable arms, braces or stays C, in which case one or all but one pair of the attendant lug or pivot members 16 could be dispensed with.

The holder described is practical and efiicient in use and is of simple and inexpensive construction, and consists of relatively few parts which can be easily assembled. The parts can be formed of sheet metal stampmgs, rendering the device light and strong, and the construction is such that no fastening devices are required, either to assemble the holder, or to secure and retain the arms C or other members in operative relation to the holder.

When the movable arms or supports C are to be used for supporting a tent, it is desirable that adjustable means he provided for engaging and stretching or holding the corners a of the tent taut. For this purpose,

see Fig. 13, each of the arms C is provided with an adjustable stop or device 36 which is movable lengthwise thereof and is disposed adjacent the outer end 0 of the arm. The stop device 36 includes a U-shaped sheet metal stamping having its legs 37 perforated for the reception of the arm C, and a clamping bolt 38 operatively engaging in a nut 39 disposed between and prevented from turning by said legs 37. By turning the bolt 38, as

by means of an operating member 10, mounted thereon, the inner end of the bolt is caused to bind the red C between an edge of each of the holes in the legs, and said end of the bolt.

Thus, by forcing the device outwardly against the eyelet 41 by which the rod C is engaged with the tent, the material of the tent is stretched taut, regardless of slight difference in the sizes of different tents, or variations due to stretching or shrinking in use, and then by adjusting the bolt 38, as explained, the device eifectively operates to retain the tent stretched and supported in proper order.

e claim as our invention:

1. An adjustable holder movable to difierent positions lengthwise of a support, including a member ,slidably engaging said support, a catch having an opening through which said support passes, said catch in the movement of said slidable member in one direction relatively to said supportbeing slidable freely along said support, and a link having a loose pivotal connection to said member and having a head disposed adjacent and loosely engaging said catch, so that as said slidable member is moved in the opposite direction, the pull exerted thereon by said member causes said head thereof to engage and move said catch to an angular position relative to said member and to said support and whereupon the edges of said opening grip opposite sides of said support, thereby preventing said holder from continuing its movement in said opposite direction.

2. An adjustable holder movable to different positions lengthwise of a support, including a member slidably engaging said support, a catch having an opening through which said support passes, said catch in the movement of said slidable member in one direction relatively to said support being slidable freely along said support, a link loosely engaging said catch, and a lug member having a lug projecting therefrom and which is apertured to pivotally support said link, and integral parts on said slide member which engage and rigidly secure said lug member thereto, and said catch, movable to a position in which the edges of its opening grip said support to releasably retain said holder in stationary relation to said support by the pull of said link thereupon when said slide member is moved in the opposite direction.

3. An adjustable holder movable to different positions lengthwise of a stationary support, including a slide engaging said support, a catch at one end of and loosely connected'to said slide and having an opening through which said support passes, said slide having a plurality of lug members disposed about the same and which are provided with apertures for receiving and pivotally supporting a series of relatively movable supports, and said slide having integral parts which engage said lug members for rigidly securing said members to said slide.

4. An adjustable holder movable to difierent positions, lengthwise of a stationary support, including a slide engaging said support, a catch at one end of said slide and having an opening through which said support passes, a link having a reduced body portion and a pair of opposite lateral pivots extending therefrom, said catch also having an opening through which said link body and pivots can be inserted so as to extend at one side of said catch, and said link having means at the opposite side of said catch engageable with the latter, and means on said slide engaging said link pivots to retain said link in operative relation to said slide and said catch.

5. The combination of a plurality of movable arms, and an adjustable holder for maintaining said arms in operative relation to a relatively stationary support, and which holder is adjustable to different positions lengthwise of the latter, said holder having pairs of pivot lugs extending therefrom, each of said arms having an offset end constituting a pivot portion, and each of said pairs of lugs having alined apertures therein for the reception of one of said pivot portions and which apertures each have an offset notch, and a projection 011 each of said pivot portions, which, in one position of the respective arms can pass through said notch to permit said arm pivots to be removed from or inserted into said apertures, and which in other positions of said arms prevent the disconnection thereof from said holder.

6. The combination of an arm, and a holder for maintaining said arm in relation to a relatively stationary support, said arm having a laterally extending pivot, and said holder having a lug formed with an aperture for receiving and rotatably supporting said lateral pivot with said arm extending adjacent one side of said lug, and said pivot having an integral projection extending at the opposite side of said lug and which prevents disconnection of said pivot from said aperture when said movable arm is in normal relation to said stationary support, and said lug aperture being formed. with an ofiset notch with which said projection registers upon turning said arm to an inoperative relation to said stationary support, whereby said pivot can be withdrawn from said aperture.

7. An adjustable holder movable to different positions lengthwiseof-a stationary support, including a sheet metal slide embracing said support, a catch comprising a sheet metal stamping having an opening to permit said support to pass therethrough, sheet metal lug members each having a body portion engaging the outer face of said slide and integral lugs extending therefrom, said slide having integral end portions engaging the body portions of said lug members to secure the latter rigidly to said slide, and a sheet metal link pivotally connected to a pair of said lugs and having'a part loosely connecting said catch to said slide, and said lugs being formed to pivotally support a plurality of relatively movable supports to said holder.

8. An adjustable holder movable to different positions lengthwise of a support having sections of varying diameter, said holder including a slide engaging said support, a catch having an opening through which said support passes, an adjustable fulcrum loosely connecting said slide and said catch, whereby when said slide is moved in one direction along said support said catch will slide freely therewith and said catch, when movement of said slide in the opposite direction is initiated, being shiftable to a position in which the same will grip said support and retain said holder in stationary relation thereto, and said adjustable fulcrum connection having a spring causing the catch to shift to a different extent in accordance with the diameter of the support section which it engages so as to firmly retain said holder in any position on said support.

9. An adjustable holder movable to different positions lengthwise of a support, including a slide engaging said support, a catch having an opening through which said support passes, a link loosely connected to said slide and said catch, and a yielding member on said link engaging said catch and which yieldingly holds the latter in a position such that said holder can move freely along said support in one direction and when movement thereof in the opposite direction is initiated, causes the edges of said catch opening at diametrically opposite sides of said support to grip the latter and retain said holder in stationary relation thereto. 7

10. An adjustable holder movable to different positions lengthwise of a support, including a slide engaging said support, a catch having an opening through which said support passes, a link loosely connected to said slide and said catch, and a spring member on said link having a part bearing against said catch to yieldingly hold the latter in a position such that said holder can move freely along said support in one direction, and when movement thereof in the opposite direction is initiated, causes the edges of said catch opening at diametrically opposite sides of said support to grip the latter and retain said holder in stationary relationthereto.

GEORGE O. BENSON. EDWARD J. SMYNTEK. 

